Phase fluctuations of a radio wave in the case of total internal reflection from a randomly inhomogeneous ionosphere

Based on the geometrical-optics approximation, we propose a method for calculation of statistical moments of the radio-wave phase in the case of total internal reflection from a randomly inhomogeneous ionosphere with a monotonic height profile of regular dielectric permittivity. To take into account the radio-wave scattering at the reflection point in a correct way, we perform analytical transformation of the eikonal equation solution derived in a first approximation of the perturbation method.